Fluid control adapters

Abstract

A fluid control adapter can include a proximal adapter surface including an array of proximal adapter openings to receive fluid from a fluid directing body when fluidly connected therewith, and a distal adapter surface including an array of distal adapter openings to pass fluid to an applicator tip when fluidly connected therewith. An adapter volume can define a plurality of adapter microfluidic channels individually fluidically connecting one or more proximal adapter openings with one or more distal adapter openings. The fluid control adapter can also include a fluid modification architecture within the adapter volume to interact with fluid contained within or passing through one or more of the adapter microfluidic channels.

1 . A fluid control adapter, comprising:
 a proximal adapter surface including an array of proximal adapter openings to receive fluid from a fluid directing body when fluidly connected therewith;   a distal adapter surface including an array of distal adapter openings to pass fluid to an applicator tip when fluidly connected therewith;   an adapter volume defining a plurality of adapter microfluidic channels individually fluidically connecting one or more proximal adapter openings with one or more distal adapter openings; and   a fluid modification architecture or component within the adapter volume to interact with fluid contained within or passing through the one or more of the adapter microfluidic channels.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid control adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a first adapter coupling feature at the proximal adapter surface that is removably connectable to the fluid directing body. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid control adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the first adapter coupling feature:
 is removably connectable to a second fluid control adapter positionable between the fluid directing body and the proximal adapter surface of the fluid control adapter;   includes a feature selected from a tongue or groove connector, a snap, a screw, a clamp, a pin, a loop or hook fastener, a compression fitting, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a temporary adhesive, a temporary bond, an electrostatic element, a click fastener, a spring fastener, or a slide fastener, and wherein the first adapter coupling feature is adapted to connect with a body coupling feature; or   a combinations thereof   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The fluid control adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter volume includes a second adapter coupling feature that is removably connectable to the applicator tip at the distal adapter surface. 
     
     
         6 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The fluid control adapter of  claim 1 , including an electrical, optical, thermal, or mechanical connection feature to interact when fluidly connected with the fluid directing body. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid control adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid modification architecture or component includes:
 mechanical architecture to introduce fluid passing the fluid control adapter to fluid dividing, fluid combining, fluid mixing, fluid blocking, fluid redirecting, fluid sampling, fluid trapping, air bubble separation, or a combination thereof;   an electrical component to introduce fluid passing the fluid control adapter to electrical current, capacitance, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, electroshock, electrospray, electromagnetic frequency, electromagnetic field resistance, induction, piezoelectric interaction, or a combination thereof;   a valve;   a sensor to sense a property of the fluid, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, a chemical sensor, a microelectromechanical system sensor, an electrical sensor, a biological sensor, an NMR sensor, a dielectrophoretic sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a combination thereof;   a dry reagent or a fluid reagent to interact with fluid passing fluid control adapter;   a thermocontroller;   a particle or cellular capture or sorting apparatus; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A modular microfluidic flow cell array, comprising:
 a fluid directing body defining a plurality of body microfluidic channels fluidically connecting source fluid openings with distal body openings at a distal body surface;   a first fluid control adapter including a first adapter microfluidic channel fluidically connecting one or more proximal adapter openings defined by a first proximal adapter surface with one or more distal adapter openings defined by a first distal adapter surface, wherein the first proximal adapter surface is removably connectable with the distal body surface of the fluid directing body; and   an applicator tip removably connectable with the first distal adapter surface ofthe first fluid control adapter,   wherein when the fluid directing body, the first fluid control adapter, and the applicator tip are fluidically connected, the substance applied to an application surface occurs as fluid passes from the fluid directing body, through the first fluid control adapter, and through the applicator tip depositing the substance to the application surface.   
     
     
         54 . The modular microfluidic flow cell array of  claim 53 , wherein the first adapter microfluidic channel:
 interacts mechanically, optically, chemically, biologically, or thermally with fluid during at least a portion of the time that fluid is contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter;   includes mechanical architecture to introduce fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter to fluid dividing, fluid combining, fluid mixing, fluid sampling, fluid trapping, air bubble separation, or a combination thereof;   includes an electrical component to introduce fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter to electrical current, capacitance, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, electroshock, electrospray, electromagnetic frequency, electromagnetic field, resistance, induction, piezoelectric interaction, or a combination thereof;   a valve;   a sensor to sense a property of the fluid, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, a chemical sensor, a microelectromechanical system sensor, an electrical sensor, a biological sensor, an NMR sensor, a dielectrophoretic sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a combination thereof;   carries a dry reagent or a fluid reagent to interact with fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter;   a thermocontroller, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         55 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The modular microfluidic flow cell array of  claim 53 , further comprising a second fluid control adapter having a second adapter microfluidic channel fluidically connecting one or more proximal adapter openings defined by a second proximal adapter surface with one or more distal adapter openings defined by a second distal adapter surface, wherein the second fluid control adapter is positionable between the first fluid control adapter and the applicator tip or is interchangeable with the first fluid control adapter. 
     
     
         62 . The modular microfluidic flow cell array of  claim 61 , wherein:
 the second fluid control adapter is positioned between the first fluid control adapter and the applicator tip, wherein the second adapter microfluidic channel fluidically connects the first adapter microfluidic channel with an applicator flow channel of the applicator tip;   the first adapter microfluidic channel interacts mechanically, optically chemically, biologically, or thermally with fluid during at least a portion of the time that fluid is contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, wherein the second adapter microfluidic channel also interacts mechanically, optically, chemically, biologically, or thermally with fluid during at least a portion of the time that fluid is contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, and wherein the first adapter microfluidic channel and the second adapter microfluidic channel interact differently with the fluid relative to one another; or   a combinations thereof.   
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The modular microfluidic flow cell array of  claim 53 , wherein the applicator tip is integrated with the application surface. 
     
     
         65 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 64 , wherein:
 a second applicator tip is also integrated with the application surface at a different location along the application surface relative to the applicator tip, wherein the second applicator tip is also removably attachable to the first distal adapter surface of the first fluid control adapter; or   the distal body surface is sealed with the first proximal adapter surface and the first distal adapter surface is sealed with a proximal tip surface of the applicator tip, and wherein the fluid directing body, the first fluid control adapter, and the applicator tip are fluidically connected together to permit fluid to pass from within the fluid directing body and through the applicator tip.   
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 64 , wherein the first fluid control adapter;
 includes flexible hollow conduit having flow channels longer than a width or a depth of the first fluid control adapter;   is configured to reserve the microfluidic connection to the applicator tip integrated with the application surface even when the fluid directing body is moved in an x-direction, a y-direction, a z-direction, or a combination of directions thereof; or   a combinations thereof.   
     
     
         68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 53 , wherein:
 the connection and disconnection of the fluid directing body, the first fluid control adapter, and the applicator tip occurs by automation;   the exchange of the first fluid control adapter with a second fluid control adapter occurs by automation;   adding the second fluid control adapter between the first fluid control adapter and the applicator tip occurs by automation; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 53 , wherein the connection between:
 the distal body surface of the fluid directing body and the proximal adapter surface of the first fluid control adapter also makes electrical, optical, thermal, or mechanical connection;   the first distal adapter surface of the first fluid control adapter also makes electrical, optical, thermal, or mechanical connection with the applicator tip or a second fluid control adapter positioned between the first fluid control adapter and the applicator tip; or   a combinations thereof.   
     
     
         72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 53 , wherein the first fluid control adapter includes multiple first adapter mnicrofluidic channels. 
     
     
         74 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 53 , wherein the first fluid control adapter includes one or more proximal adapter openings associated with unconnected channels that do not permit the fluid to pass into the applicator tip. 
     
     
         75 . The modular fluid control adapter system of  claim 53 , wherein when the fluid directing body, the first fluid control adapter, and the applicator tip are fluidically connected and the substance has been deposited on the application surface, a return flow path is present to return the fluid through the first fluid control adapter and into the fluid directing body. 
     
     
         76 . A method of treating an application surface for analysis of a substance, comprising:
 docking a first modular microfluidic flow cell array on an application surface, wherein the first modular microfluidic flow cell array includes a fluid directing body fluidly connected to a first fluid control adapter;   flowing a first fluid through the first modular microfluidic flow cell array including through the first fluid control adapter;   removing the first fluid control adapter from the fluid directing body;   fluidly connecting a second fluid control adapter to the fluid directing body to form a second modular microfluidic flow cell array;   docking the second modular microfluidic flow cell array on the application surface; and   flowing a second fluid through the second modular microfluidic flow cell array including through the second fluid control adapter.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are the same. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are different. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first fluid control adapter interacts differently with the fluid compared to the second fluid control adapter. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both are in the form of a first applicator tip, a second applicator tip, or both, respectively. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both are not in the form of applicator tips, and the method further includes:
 fluidly connecting a first applicator tip to the first fluid control adapter to flow the first fluid also through the first applicator tip to contact the application surface via the first applicator tip;   fluidly connecting a second applicator tip to the second fluid control adapter to flow the second fluid also through the second applicator tip to contact the application surface via the second applicator-tip: or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein flowing the first fluid, flowing the second fluid, or both includes flowing fluid for a purpose other than depositing substance spots on the application surface, but rather is for surface preparation, deposition spot washing, microfluidic channel priming, generating a reaction, removing materials, swapping materials, manipulating cells, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein flowing the first fluid results in depositing a first group of substance spots on the application surface, flowing the second fluid results in depositing a second group of substance spots on the application surface, or both. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising depositing the first group of substance spots and the second group of substances spots at overlapping interstitial locations on the application surface. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the overlapping interstitial locations are:
 partially overlapping with one or both of the first group of substance spots or the second group of substance spots being applied to space on the application surface without the first group of substance spots; or   fully overlapping.   
     
     
         87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising;
 depositing the first group of substance spots and the second group of substances spots at non-overlapping interstitial locations on the application surface;   applying an interrogation fluid to a plurality of spots or all spots of the first group of substance spots, the second group of substances spots, or both; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein:
 unspotted areas or uniformly spotted areas of the first or second group of substance spots are used for internal referencing;   the first modular microfluidic flow cell array and the second modular microfluidic flow cell array are arranged to deposit different patterns of substance on the application surface; or   a combinations thereof.   
     
     
         90 - 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method of claim  91 , wherein the interrogation fluid is:
 applied on unspotted space on the application surface surrounding the plurality of spots or all of the spots of the first group of substance spots, the second group of substances spots, or both;   applied using an interrogation applicator tip that is fluidically connectable directly or indirectly to the fluid directing body;   fluidically connectable and disconnectable by mechanical, magnetic, or electrostatic force engagement and disengagement; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         93 - 94 . (canceled) 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein depositing the first group of substance spots, the second group of substances spots, or both includes associating location data with the first group of substance spots, the second group of substance spots, or both by engaging a location sensor identifier with the application surface, the first modular microfluidic flow cell array, the second modular microfluidic flow cell array, the first group of substance spots, the second group of substance spots, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein removing the first fluid control adapter from the fluid directing body and fluidly connecting a second fluid control adapter to the fluid directing body is carried out by;
 mechanical disengagement of the fluid directing body with the first fluid control adapter and mechanical engagement of the fluid directing body with the second fluid control adapter;   magnetic disengagement of the fluid directing body with the first fluid control adapter and magnetic engagement of the fluid directing body with the second fluid control adapter;   electrostatic force disengagement of the fluid directing body with the first fluid control adapter and electrostatic force engagement of the fluid directing body with the second fluid control adapter; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         97 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein removing the first applicator tip from the first fluid control adapter and fluidly connecting the second applicator tip to the second fluid control adapter is carried out by:
 mechanical disengagement of the first fluid control adapter with the first applicator tip and mechanical engagement of the second fluid control adapter with the second applicator tip;   magnetic disengagement of the first fluid control adapter with the first applicator tip and magnetic engagement of the second fluid control adapter with the second applicator tip;   electrostatic force disengagement of the first fluid control adapter with the first applicator tip and electrostatic force engagement of the second fluid control adapter with the second applicator tip; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         100 - 101 . (canceled) 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first modular microfluidic flow cell array, the second modular microfluidic flow cell array, or both include data collection hardware or indicia to collect data related to the first fluid, the second fluid, or both; contacting the application surface, depositing substance spots on the application surface, or both. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein the data collection hardware or indicia includes an RFID tag, a 2D barcode, an electrical contact, or optics, wherein the data collection hardware is associated with a processor or processors associated with the first modular microfluidic flow cell array, the second modular mnicrofluidic flow cell array, the application surface, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein the processor or processors are configured to convey adjustments to an operation selected from changing fluid flow parameters, expanding or restricting ports, contact pressure with the application substrate, temperature adjustment, valve operation, activating sensors, electromechanical manipulations, acoustic manipulations, optical manipulations, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the processor or processors are in the form of an internal chip or chips. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the internal chip or chips;
 are located on the first modular microfluidic flow cell array, the second modular microfluidic flow cell array, or both at a location or locations that contacts the application surface when flowing the first fluid, flowing the second fluid, or both occurs, leaving a first group of substance spots, a second group of substance spots, or both;   include an interlocking feature creating a fluid-tight seal with the application surface or withstanding pulling forces associated with release from the application surface; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         107 . (canceled) 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the fluid directing body, the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adaptor, or a combination thereof includes chamfers or guidance indicators to enhance fluidically coupling when engaging the fluid directing body with the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adaptor, or both. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising:
 thermally interacting with fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both;   mechanically interacting with fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both by fluid dividing, fluid combining, fluid mixing, fluid sampling, fluid trapping, air bubble separation, or a combination thereof,   electrically interacting with fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both using electrical current, capacitance, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, electroshock, electrospray, electromagnetic frequency, electromagnetic field, resistance, induction, piezoelectric interaction, or a combination thereof,   sensing a fluid or substance property contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both using an optical sensor, a chemical sensor, a microelectromechanical system sensor, an electrical sensor, a biological sensor, an NMR sensor, a dieletrophoretic sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a combination thereof,   chemically interacting with fluid contained within or passing through the first fluid control adapter, the second fluid control adapter, or both, using the first adapter microfluidic channel by contacting the fluid with a dry reagent or a fluid reagent contained therein; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         110 - 113 . (canceled) 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein removing the first fluid control adapter from the fluid directing body and fluidly connecting a second fluid control adapter to the fluid directing body occurs by automation. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein:
 flow of the first fluid while the first modular microfluidic flow cell array is sealed against the application surface further includes return of the first fluid through the first fluid control adapter and into or through the fluid directing body;   flow of the second fluid while the second modular microfluidic flow cell array is sealed against the application surface further includes return of the second fluid through the second fluid control adapter and into or through the fluid directing body; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising undocking the first modular microfluidic flow cell array from the application surface after flowing the first fluid through the first modular microfluidic flow cell array. 
     
     
         117 - 128 . (canceled)